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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. KREHBIBL. MACHINE FOR CUTTING GELATINE CAPSULES.

,859. Patented June 24, 18910.

Y# kuma (No Modell.) l 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. J. KREHBIE'L. MACHINE FOR CUTTING GELATINE CAPSULES. N0. 430,859.

Patented June 24, 18901.

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J. KREHBIBL. MACHINE FOR-CUTTING GBLATINE. CAPSULES. No. 430,859. l atented June 24. 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

JOHN KREHBIEL, OF KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE KREHBIEL CAPSULE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

MACHINE FOR CUTTlNG GELATINE CAPSULES.h

SPECIFICATION forming' part 0f Letters Patent No. 430,859, dated June V24, 1890.

Application filed October 2l, 1889. Serial No. 327,702. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN KEEHEIEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kalamazoo, in the county of Kalamazoo and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Cutting Gelatine Capsules, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to thc accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in machines for cutting off gelatine capsules on their mold-pins; andthe invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the different parts, whereby the machine is adapted to work automatically.

In the drawings which accompany this specification, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine as in operation, with part of the Fig. 2 is a rear elevation. Fig. 3 is a plan with certain parts removed. Fig. 4 is an end elevation. Fig. 5 is a cross-section on linea@ :r in Fig. l. Fig. Gis

a detail section of one of the Scrapers. Fig. 7 is a detail section of one of the cutters. Fig. 8 is a detail plan view of one of the cutters as in operation en a mold-pin, and Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of the rocking shaft.

A are mold-plates of circular shape and provided at the face with the usual moldfpins B, arranged in rows at right angles to each other. On the back of each mold-plate is an annular ange C, concentric with the plate and provided at diametrically-opposite points with notches D, there being four such notches, corresponding with two diameters at right angles to each other and respectively parallel to the rows of pins. These mold-plates are adapted to roll in a rollway E, which leads from the point where the mold-plates are dipped (not shown) to the place of cutting off the gelatine pins. At this place they are stopped from rolling any farther by any suitable device.

The cutting-machine consists of a frame G, forming two panels, in which are removably secured the plates H and H', the former carrying a series of cutters and the latter a corresponding series of Scrapers. The cutters are of known form, as shown in detail in Figs. 7 and 8, in which ais a tubular bearing, in kwhich the shank c of the cutter is supported. A11 arm c is pivotally secured to the shank, and this carries at its free end a small circular knife CZ, journaled on a pin. The shank c projects through its tubular bearing and has its end screw-threaded and provided with a thumbescrew, which bears on a little coil-spring e, sleeved on the shank, all so arranged that while the arm c is free to turn in its bearing the coilspring provides a cer` tain amount of friction, which may be regulated by the thumb-screw, the object of which is to press the circular cutter hard enough against the moldpin to cut through the gelatine with which it is coated. The cutter is carried around the 4moldpin in a circular path, as shown in Fig. 8, by devices hereinafter described.

The scraper is similarly constructed as the cutter, and has the tubular bearing a, the shank c, the coil-spring c, and the thumbscrew; but, instead of a circular knife, it is provided with the angular scraper f, pivotally secured to the shank, and all so arranged that when the scraper 'is carried around the mold-pin in the same manner as the cutter it will scrape or roll back the waste portion of the gelatine capsule which has been cut off from the good portion v of the capsule by the action of the cutters. The cutters and Scrapers are grouped on the plates H and H in the same manner and to the same number as the mold-pins on the mold-plate, and to cause them to travel around the mold-pins in the manner required, the frame G is j ournaled on two cranks formed on the crankshafts I I. Each of thesecrank-shafts has a pinion J, which meshes with an intermediate gear-wheel K, which latter is intermittently rotated enough to give the pinons J one or more revolutions. To this end a notched disk or ring L is secured on the shaft of the gear-wheel K, and an oscillating feed-lever IWI, carrying a feed-pawl N, is actuated by the feedwheel O through a connecting-rodP and the crank-arm U on the wheel, all so arranged that at each revolution of the feed-wheel O the feed-lever M turns the disk L one notch,

IOO

thereby imparting lone or more revolutions to the crank-shafts I, the cranks of which impart to the frame G the required rotary reciprocating motion necessary to carry the cutters around the mold-pins of the moldplate brought in juxtaposition to the cutterplate. During this motion the frame G is guided in its plane by the guide-screws Q, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5, bearing against the corner lugs G of the frame G from opposite sides. By means of these guide-screws the frame G, carrying the cutters and scrapers, can be adjusted to any desired distance from the mold-plates.

As before stated, the mold-plates to be subjected to the operation of the machine are carried to the machine by the inclined rollway E, at the foot of which they are stopped. The rollway extends parallel to and past the frame G, and over this portion of rollway the mold-plates are carried by a feeding device consisting of the reciprocating feed-bar R, which slides in suitable bearings at the back of the mold-plates, and carries a number of dogs S, which are adapted to engage on the edges or flanges C of the mold-plates whenever the feed-bar is moving forward. This feed-bar is actuatedby the feed-wheel O through a connecting-rod T, which is connected to the feed-wheel O through the crankarm U, which latteris sleeved upon the shaft of the feed-wheel and is secured to the feedwheel by a wooden pin R, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so that in case of a severe strain, owing to a disarrangement of the parts, the breaking of the wooden pin will prevent damage to the machine. The travel of the feed-bar R is such that the mold-plates are advanced at each reeiprocation the distance between the centers of two adjoining plates, and the position of the dogs is such as to bring two of the mold-plates into proper apposition to the cutters an d scrapers to be operated upon.

To prevent the mold-pins from interfering with the cutters and Scrapers when the moldplates are fed, it is necessary to hold the moldplates firmly in a position which allows the rows of mold-pins to pass between the rows of cutters and Scrapers; and to this end the horizontal locking-bars U U are provided in the center of the rollway, which bars lock into the notches formed in the circular ange on the back of the mold-plates and thereby prevent them from rotating. The bar U is vmade yielding, being secured to a spring-bar U3, attached to the frame E, so that the incoming mold-plate may press it back and revolve until it is in proper position for the locking-bar to engage in the notches upon the rear side of said mold-plate.

Ahorizontal guide-barV, adj ustably mounted by the screw-bolts V to the frame, is adapted to engage between two central rows of mold-pins on the front face of the two mold-plates which are opposite to the cutters and scrapers. This bar forms a fixed abutment to hold these plates at the proper distance away from the cutters and scrapers and otherwise holds the plates firmly in their proper position.

As the mold-plates have to be kept perfectly stationary while they are operated upon by the cutters and scrapers, a locking device is provided, which consists of the lifting-bar W, which is pivotally secured at one end to the frame E and has its free end curved down over the feed-wheel O, it being held in close proximity to the wheel by a projecting end which rests on the frame of the machine. A wrist-pin Y is carried by the crankarm. U, which vduring the revolution of the feed-wheel passes under the curved end of the lifting-bai' and thereby lifts it up at every revolution.

Z represents a rocking shaft parallel with and on the frame adjacent to the molds,hav ing a crank-arm e on its end and a series of stop-arms Z secured thereon at intervals equal to the diameter of the mold-plates. The outer end of the arm .e is connected to the bar W by a link Z2. NVhc-.n the bar WV is down, the stop-arms are forced in front of the mold-plates, thereby locking them in place.

The parts being constructed and arranged to operate substantially as shown and described, it will be seen that the mold-plates carried to the machine by the rollway E will be drawn by the reciprocating feed-ban'R, with its four dogs, step by step, first into a i position where the plate becomes locked on its back by the yielding locking-bar U and then into a position opposite the frame G, where the circular vibratory motion imparted to said frame causes the cutters to travel around the mold-pins to effect the cutting off of the capsules, while the mold-plates, are meanwhile held stationary and firmly locked in position. rlhen by the next reciprocation of the feed-bar the mold-plate is IIO carried opposite the scrapers, which separate the waste from the capsules, while the mold-plate is held similarly in position, as in cutting, and lastly the mold-plate is drawn beyond the cutting-machine, free to roll away on an inclined continuation ot' the rollway, or preferably, as shown in the drawings, into the lower end of the vertical rollway, in which it is elevated by a carrier-chain and discharged onto a rollway, and from this they are carried to any suitable place for drying.

In all gelatine-capsule-cutting-of machines provision has to be made to push back, scrape o, or otherwise separate the waste portion of the capsules after it is cut off from the capsule itself, as otherwise the two are liable -to reunite, and, furthermore,'it would be very difficult to remove the capsule by the socalled process of stripping if this were not done. Thus this operation is a necessary function of the cutting-off machine; but heretofore separating devices have never been devised to accomplish it, as the cutting-oit knives were used to accomplish both functions. Separate `devices like the Scrapers above described are, however, much more preferable, as the operation is performed much better and Without any liability of having the knives clogged up or covered With the Waste, and thereby rendered unfit to accomplish the cutting oli".

Vhat I claim as my invention isl. In a capsule-cuttingoff machine, the combination, with a frame provided with Ways and circular mold-pin plates adapted to be moved and locked in said Ways, o t' an adjustable rotary reciprocating frame` a plate removably secured in the frame, and a series of revolving cutters carried by said plate, as and for thc purpose specified.

2. In a capsule-cutting-off machine, the combination, with a frame provided with Ways and circular mold-pin plates adapted to be moved and locked in said Ways, of an adjustable rotary reciprocating frame, a plate removably secured in the frame, and a series of revolving Scrapers carried by said plate, as and for the purpose speciiied.

3. The combination, with the frame G and plate I'I, carrying the scrapers, of a scraper consisting of the tubular bearing a, the shank c, engaging therein, the angular Scrapers f, rotarily secured thereto, the coil-spring c on the shank, and the thumb-screw on the threaded end of the shank, all arranged to operate substantially as described.

4t. In an automatic gelatine-capsule-cut ting-off machine, the combination, With circular mold-plates provided with a notched flange upon their rear sides, of a rollway in Which said roll-plates are adapted to travel, a locking bar or bars on said rollWay adapted to lock into said notches on the back ot" said mold-plates, a reciprocating feed-bar carrying a dog adapted to engage and feed the mold-plate, and a frame intermittently actuated by a circular vibratory motion and carrying a series of cutters and a series of scrapers, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with mold-plates llaving the usual mold-pins and cutting-off devices embodying a series of cutters arranged on a movable frame to travel in a circulaidirection around the mold-pins, of a Way on which the mold-plates are adapted to travel and an automatic-feeding device by which the mold-plates are intermittently drawn to and past the cutting-off device, substantially as described.

6. In a capsule cutting ott machine, the combination, with the series of knives and corresponding series of scrapers adapted to respectively cut oit the gelatine capsules on their mold-pins and to separate or push back the remaining waste by a circular movement of said knives and scrapers around the moldpins of the mold-plates, of a frame carrying the series of knives and series of scrapers, a track or Way on which the moldplates are adapted to be moved into operative proximity to the knives and scrapers, and amechanical feeding device by means of which the moldplates are drawn step by step first into operative proximity to the series of cutting-knives and then tothe series of scrapers, substantially as described.

7. In a capsule cuttingoft machine, the combination, with a-series of rotary cuttingknives secured to crank-arms and adapted to travel around and to bear against the moldpins by being carried in a circular path around the same, of a corresponding series of Scrapers secured to or forming crank-arms and adapted to travel around and bear angularly against the mold-pins by being carried in a circular path around the same, and a common frame carrying both series of knives and Scrapers and adapted to carry them in their circular path around the mold-pins, substantially as described.

8. In a capsule-cutting-off machine, the combination, With the track or Way in Which the mold-plates are held and operated upon, of the frame carrying the series of knives and series of scrapers, and the adjustingscrews upon opposite sides of the corners of said frame to adjust said frame from or toward the Way in Which the mold-plates are held, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two Witnesses, this llth day of April, 1889.

JOI-IN KREHBIEL.

IVitnesses:

Gno. A. GREGG, P. M. IIULBERT. 

